Over 1,000 attendees are expected for the upcoming Sustainable Agricultural Conference in Durham, N.C., Nov. 11-13. Participants will learn management techniques from sustainable experts at this conference, the 26th annual event of its kind.
Carolina Farm Stewards, the conference organizer, notes the Sustainable Agriculture Conference is the largest event of its kind in the Carolinas. It will have over 60 workshops on any number of topics, including sustainable horticulture, livestock, soils, mushrooms, permaculture, bees, food and more.
Richard Wiswall, a wll-known expert on farm business, will be one of the featured speakers. Others will include natural beekeeping expert Ross Conrad, mob grazing pioneer Greg Judy and farm-scale composting specialist Ellen Polishuk.
Organic Valley's veterinarian Guy Jodarski will also be on hand, as will two leaders in sustainable farming policy leaders, Kristina Hubbard and Brian Snyder. Will Hooker and Chuck Marsh, permaculture experts, will make presentations. James Beard, a top chef, will round out the presentations.
Several organic farmers will also be on hand to lend expertise from their hands-on point of view. These include Paul Wiediger, Ken Dawson, Rob Bowers, Daniel Parsons and Tradd Cotter, among others.
Keynote speaker for the event is Joan Dye Gussow, renowned local food advocate and the best-selling author of the publication, "This Organic Life." The organizers point out that Gussow has spent a lifetime "championing the idea that locally-grown food eaten in season makes sense. A passionate advocate for organic, local food and small, family farms, Joan is known as the matriarch of the movement. She will be speaking during the Local Foods Feast on Nov. 11 from 6:30-9:00 p.m. The meal, made with sustainably grown ingredients supplied by local farms, is open to the public. Tickets are purchased separately from the conference registration.
The Friday, Nov. 11 pre-conference features hands-on workshops, as well as farm tours of beautiful organic farms, ranches and dairies.
Registration and a complete list of offerings for the conference and the Local Foods Feast can be found online at www.carolinafarmstewards.org. Tickets are $245 for non members. Early registration by October 18 saves $50.